CC BY
18
Maria Kulisa, Katarzyna Makiela, Boguslawa DIugosz, Paulina Golara ©
Departament of Horses Breeding, Agricultural University 30-059 Krakow, al. Mickiewicza 24/28, Poland, e-mail: k.makiela@gmail.com
SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS IN A GROUP OF HANOVERIAN
HORSES
Abstract. The objective of the thesis has been to study the social relationships in a group of Hanoverian horses on the basis of a population kept at a private stud. The research material included 34 horses observed during a summer period. The data collected concerned the stable and pasture conditions. The analysis included the stud's daily routine and animal behaviour in various situations (turn out to the paddock, reaching the paddock, behaviour towards strangers and while tended, and attitudes towards peer horses). The horses were kept in a well designed and maintained stable. Each horse had a spacious and comfortable box, which had good impact on the horses' behaviour. The daily routine was fixed and strictly adhered to. This enhanced the development of favourable behavioural reflexes of the horses. At the pasture the herd of horses presented a characteristic layout and hierarchy. A sixteen year old mare was the leader of the broodmare and fillies herd. Right after coming to the paddock the horses stuck together in a tight group. With time they spread over a greater area. The mares' position in the herd depended mainly on their age. Mothers with foals grazed inside the group. Colts that grazed on another pasture had their own leader. Male yearlings tolerated men in their surroundings much better than fillies. Moreover colts tolerated their peers better. All the horses obtained the highest scores in assessment when tended.
Key words: horse behaviour, Hanoverian horses
Introduction. There are significant differences in the horses' temper and intelligence. Psyche, behaviour and learning capabilities are individual features and therefore individual reactions to the same stimuli are varied [3], which is also related to the breed and inheritance. The effectiveness of selection carried out by the breeders towards particular behavioural features confirms the genetic origin of a number of animal behaviours. Mild tempered animals were preferred for breading purposes and for improving many utilitarian features [6, 11]. Hanoverian horses are valued among breeders. They obtain high scores in international horse riding competitions, both in dressage and jumping. They have excellent disposition, are clever and willing to cooperate with men. There is almost no rebellion or nervousness. However, character and temper are peculiar and individual-specific features.
Task, the aim of the article. The objective of the study has been to analyse the social relationships in a group of Hanoverian horses over a summer period on the basis of a population kept at the private stud, and to define animal behaviours in
© Maria Kulisa, Katarzyna Makiela, Boguslawa Dlugosz, Paulina Golara, 2009 266
various situations (turn out to the paddock, reaching the paddock, behaviour towards strangers and when tended, and attitudes towards peer horses).
Material and methods. The material observed included horses at a private Hanoverian stud. The study carried out over a summer period included 34 horses (12 broodmares, 10 foals, 7 one- and two-year old fillies and 5 one-year old colts). The data collected concerned the stable and pasture conditions. The analysis included the stud's daily routine and animal behaviour in various situations (turn out to the paddock, reaching the paddock, behaviour towards strangers and when tended, and attitudes towards peer horses). The grading scales used to interpret horse behaviour towards strangers (men), when tended and towards peer horses are shown in tables 1, 2 and 3 [8]. The results have been obtained using basic statistical calculations.
Table 1. Horse behaviour towards strangers (men)
points Behaviour towards strangers
4 Initiate contact
3 Permit stroking
2 Reserved, avoid touching
1 Escape
Table 2. Young horses' behaviour towards peer horses
points Young horses' behaviour towards peer horses
4 Play together and groom one another
3 Approach and sniff at each other
2 Reserved, avoid touching
1 Aggressive towards other foals
Table 3. Adult horses' behaviour when tended
points Behaviour when tended
10 Obedient and still
9 Obedient though sometimes rebellious
8 Afraid yet stand without taming
TAMING:
7 Held by ear - stand still
6 Twitch - stand still
5 Ear - initially or sporadically defensive
4 Twitch - initially or sporadically defensive
3 Ear - violent wrenching
2 Twitch - violent wrenching
1 Twitch, ear - violent wrenching
Results of researches. In natural environment horses graze all days and need large spaces and company. Restriction to small boxes or other closed areas in strong psychological stress, particularly in young and inexperienced animals [5], thus it is
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important to ensure proper stable conditions. It is also important to carefully select staff as this, apart from the hereditary psychical features, largely affects the animals' character. [1].
The horses concerned were kept in a well designed and maintained stable. Each horse had a spacious and comfortable box. The horses were located according to age. Thanks to the proper stable conditions, sufficient movement on the pastures and the conduct of the qualified staff, no cases of addiction or bad habits were recorded in the horses concerned.
In natural conditions horses could survive thanks to their learning and adaptation capabilities. While learning new things horses need time to master and remember them. [2]. Acquire actions coexist with the instinctive ones or supersede them, which is important because domesticated animals do not have to look for food themselves and adapt their innate behaviours to stud conditions. Horses are willing to be fed at fixed times of the day, which results in habits called „psychical readiness of the body to take fodder" [9].
The daily routine in the stud concerned was fixed and adhered to. This encouraged favourable behavioural reflexes. The horses were fed twice a day at fixed times and by the same persons. The animals knew exactly their feeding times. The appearance of the stud staff who tended the horses every day at feeding times resulted in the horses' characteristic neighing and excitement. Such behaviour results from the physiological rhythm that evokes hunger at feeding times and from the instinct to satisfy hunger [9].
Proper functioning in a group is based on following specific principles. The most important principle is the position of a horse in relation to peers, i.e. the hierarchy. Each herd has an alpha mare, i.e. a leader, and if there are also males in the herd, then an alpha stallion. In natural herds there is only one adult male. In stud herds created by men it is usually broodmares with their offspring - that are turn out to pastures. Such groups have their hierarchies, too. Mares' position in the herd depends on their age, experience and individual features of character. Mares' behaviour in contacts with other horses is a rough measure of their position [10]. Depending on their rank, horses have their tasks and responsibilities. The alpha mare is always in the front. She leads the other group members from the stable to the pastures, and sets the place where they start grazing. On their way to the paddock no mare overtakes the leader. Once at the paddock the horses spread in a characteristic way. Each horse in its specific rank plays the functions for which it is best fit, which contributes to the preservation social values as well as of the species [4].
A characteristic layout of the herd on the pasture and its hierarchy has been noted. The oldest, sixteen-year-old mare was the leader in a herd consisting of broodmares with foals, mares without foals, yearlings and two-year-old fillies. The alpha mare would always lead the horses to their pastures. Right after coming to the paddock the horses stuck together in a tight group and for the first two hours they grazed intensively. With time they would spread over a larger area with 2-3 meter distances from one another. Individual horses would walk away sporadically. In the centre of the group there were dames with foals. In a slight distance there were one-
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and two-year old fillies. On the outside there were mares without offspring. The mares with higher positions with no foals would decide of each change of pasture. When they decided to move to another part of the pasture they would walk away slowly, and once they made sure that the herd could be safe in the selected place, they started grazing. Then the other horses joined them. The process took approximately 7 minutes. The mares' position in the herd depends mainly on their age. Younger mares were driven off by the older ones if they trespassed on their terrain. However there were no dangerous attacks, and dissatisfaction was manifested mainly by laying back of the ears. Actions that would occur repeatedly on the pasture included mutual grooming and wallowing. Young horses spent much time on play. No aggression or reserve was noted among them. Colts released to another pasture also had their leader. Once they entered the paddock they would first run for 3 to 4 minutes and only they did they start to graze. Grazing was most intensive at the beginning and took 30-40 minutes at the most. The colts spent quite a lot of time playing, running and wandering. All changes of activity were spontaneous and often a fifteen-minute period of grazing would be interrupted several times by play and running.
Since domesticating the horse, man - through raising and training - has tried to influence its behaviour. However, horses' innate instinct plays an important role in their behaviours even if they are born in captivity [1, 9]. Horses are intelligent animals that adapt quickly to the company of men. They can also distinguish new people from the ones they see every day.
When strangers entered their boxes, one-year old colts became reserved. When the intruders extended their hands while at the same time being very quiet, the animals started sniffing at them. Within a dozen seconds or so they would approach the men and gradually permitted touching. Four out of five colts scored 4 points, which means that they initiated contact. One horse was more reserved and did not initiate contact with men (Figure 1).
Fillies were less trusting as compared to colts. Most of them were reserved when men appeared. They would most often try to hide in the corners of their boxes, yet they would never attack or kick. During the daily routine at the stud the fillies were not touched or stroked, and their pasture was remote from the places where the stud's personnel worked. They were not used to men, which could have contributed to greater caution in their behaviour. None of them obtained the highest score and only 3 fillies scored 3 points. Two yearlings scored the lowest numbers of points as they would hide in the corners of their boxes when strangers appeared (Figure 1).
When faced with strangers half of the mares would initiate contact (4 points), and the other would behave more indifferently (3 points). Adult mares were trusting and showed no aggressive behaviors (Figure 1).
Horses are social animals and their social behaviors can be properly shaped only when they live in groups. A herd provides a sense of security, and when a horse feels even slightly in danger it will always look for or try to return to its herd [1]. Foals and young horses spend most time on play. This is very good for the shaping of their behaviours. As they watch their older mates they learn how to live in a herd [1].
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Науковий вгсник ЛНУВМБТ шен1 С.З. Гжицького Том 11 № 2(41) Частина 3, 2009
In terms of behaviour towards peers all one-year-old colts obtained maximum scores (4 points) (Figure 2). The yearlings would play and groom one another. The play included mostly chasing and biting, and rearing up. The colts showed no aggression in their play.
Figure 1: Scores concerning behaviors towards strangers (men) among yearlings, two-year-old fillies, and broodmares.
One- and two-year-old fillies stuck together in a tight group. They were friendly towards one another and they would often play and groom one another. Most fillies obtained maximum scores (4 points), except for two who spent more time watching over the heard rather than playing (3 points) (Figure 2). Their behavior can be related to the fact that both fillies occupied boxes neighboring to those of adult mares.
As a result of horse domestication and of the way they are maintained, men must regularly perform a number of tending actions such as grooming or hoof care.
When assessing mare behaviour while tended no aggressive reactions were noted. All the mares concerned obtained the highest scores (10 points). This means that no taming was necessary while grooming. According to Pruski [7] the Hanoverian horses' virtue is their mild temper and willingness to cooperate with men, which is corroborated by the abovementioned findings.
Conclusions. Hanoverian horses have excellent disposition, are clever and willing to cooperate with men. The stud concerned was well designed and maintained. Each horse had a spacious and comfortable box, which had good impact on the horses' behaviour. The daily routine was fixed and strictly adhered to. This encouraged the development of favourable behavioural reflexes in the horses. At the pasture the herd presented a characteristic layout and hierarchy. A sixteen year old mare was the leader of the broodmare and fillies herd. Right after coming to the
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paddock the horses stuck together in a tight group. With time, they spread over a greater area. The mares' position in the herd depended mainly in their ages. Mothers with foals grazed in the centre of the group. Colts that grazed on another pasture had their own leader. One-year-old colts tolerated men in their surroundings much better than fillies. Moreover, colts tolerated their peers better. All the broodmares scored the highest scores in terms of their behavior when tended.
0 0
00
□ colts
□ fillies
4 points 5
3 points 2 points 1 point
0 0 0
2 0 0
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
0
5
Figure 2: Scores concerning behaviors of fillies and colts towards their peers
References.
1. BIRD J., 2004 - Hodowla konia w zgodzie z nature Jak zadbac o zdrowie i szcz^scie konia. Tlumaczenie Nogacka E., Solis, Warszawa.
2. BOGUCKA- SCIEZYNSKA A., 1998 - Behawior konia wierzchowego. Wybrane zagadnienia. Magazyn Weterynaryjny 3, 206.
3. CHACHULA J., CHRANOWSKI S., OLEKSIAK S., 1984 - Chow, hodowla i uzytkowanie koni. SGGW, Warszawa.
4. HORDYNSKA E., 1995 - O koniu u jezdzie konnej. JiK, Zbroslawice.
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6. NOWICKI B., 1985 - Genetyka i metody doskonalenia zwierz^t. PWRiL, Warszawa.
7. PRUSKI W., 1960 - Hodowla koni. T. 1, PWRiL, Warszawa.
8. PUCHALA A., 2001 - Zachowanie si? zrebi^t wobec rowiesnikow i czlowieka oraz podczas piel?gnacji. Praca magisterka, AR Krakow.
9. WALENDOWSKA A., NOWICKA- POSLUSZNA A., 1991 - Ocena niektorych zachowan koni wierzchowych. Kon Polski, 3, 9.
10. WALKOWICZ E., P AWLINA E., 1992 - Klacze i zrebi?ta na pastwisku. Kon Polski, 3,10.
11. ZWOLINSKI J., 1976 - Hodowla koni. PWRiL, Warszawa.
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Summary
Celem niniejszej pracy bylo przesledzenie zaleznosci socjalnych w grupie konie hanowerskich na przykladzie populacji utrzymywanej w prywatnej stadninie w Czarnej Dolnej. Material do badan stanowily 34 osobniki (12 klaczy hodowlanych, 10 zrebiqt, 7 klaczek rocznych i dwuletnich oraz 5 rocznych ogierków) obserwowane w okresie letnim. Zwrócono uwag% na porzqdek dnia w stajni i zachowanie si% zwierzqt w róznych sytuacjach (wypuszczanie na padok, dotarcie na padok, zachowanie wobec obcego czlowieka i przy obsludze, stosunek do rówiesników). W stadninie, w której prowadzono badania konie utrzymywane byly w dobrze zaprojektowanej i utrzymanej stajni. Kazdy osobnik zajmowal duzy i wygodny boks, co korzystnie wplyn%lo na sposób zachowania si% koni. Porzqdek dnia byl scisle ustalony i przestrzegany. Sprzyjalo to wytworzeniu u koni korzystnych odruchów behawioralnych. Na pastwisku zaobserwowano charakterystyczny schemat ulozenia stada i panujqcq w nim hierarchy. Przewodniczkq stada klaczy doroslych i klaczek byla szesnastoletnia klacz. Bezposrednio po wyjsciu na padok konie trzymaly si% w zwartej grupie. Z uplywem czasu obszar zajmowany przez stado powiqkszal si%. Pozycja klaczy w stadzie zalezala przede wszystkim od ich wieku. Wewnqtrz grupy pasly si% matki ze zrebi%tami. Ogierki wypuszczane na inne pastwisko równiez mialy swojego przewodnika. Ogierki roczne znacznie lepiej tolerowaly w swym otoczeniu czlowieka niz klaczki. Ogierki takze wykazywaly wiqkszq tolerancj% do wspóltowarzyszy. Wszystkie klacze hodowlane otrzymaly najwyzszq ilosc punków w trakcie oceny przy obsludze.
Cmammx nadiümna do peda^ii 14.04.2009
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